Date of Award

4-6-2025

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Rebecca Schindler

Second Advisor

Matt Meier

Third Advisor

Jeff Dunn

Abstract

This thesis explores how presidential crisis rhetoric shapes public understanding of democracy in the twenty-first century. Through a comparative analysis of George W. Bush’s address following the September 11 attacks and Donald Trump’s speech at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it examines how presidents construct national identity, justify political action, and frame civic participation. Drawing from classical rhetorical theory, Bitzer’s rhetorical situation, Burke’s dramatistic pentad, and McGee’s theory of “the people,” the study argues that crisis rhetoric is not simply a reaction to events but a means of redefining the crisis. It also considers demagogic rhetorical strategies—such as emotional manipulation and identity segmentation—and their implications for democratic trust and civic engagement. Through close textual analysis, keyword frequency mapping, and reception data, the thesis demonstrates that presidential rhetoric in moments of crisis both reflects and reconstructs democratic ideals, revealing the evolving relationship between governance, performance, and public expectation.

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